Ramps are open and the rainbow trout bite is on.

Canyon Dam is a great place to start, from boat, or along the shoreline.

Yes the Ramps are still open, the repair work scheduled to start December has been pushed out. Lake levels are still rather high and need to come down some before the contractors can get to work. Once that project starts Canyon Dam will be closed until spring. The contractor told me that when the job starts they will open the USFS ramp on the west shore.That will be the only public ramp access at Lake Almanor.

In the meantime, both ramps are open and the dock is still in place, even the USFS ramps is open again as the snows have melted enough to allow access, however there is no dock.

There's a big break in the weather this weekend and it should be ideal, mostly sunny and very light wind forecasted for the Almanor Basin and northern California.

Canyon Dam and the Geritol Cove areas have been producing clean Rainbows in the 3lb. range. Most guys are bank fishing from folding lawn chairs. Inflated crawlers off the bottom,or a piece of a crawler with a yellow scented marshmallow off the bottom, have been catching some fish, but Power Bait has been better, catching more fish in a shorter amount of time.

Hamilton Branch, another premier bank fishing area, is the spot for salmon.

White gitzits jigs are attracting the two-year-old, 13-inch salmon. The rainbows are around as well.  Mealworms on a #10 hook under a bobber worked for one guy I watched, he hooked up four times in the hour I was there..All rainbows over 16 inches...That's good!

With all the rain last week most boats were off the lake, and fishing pressure has been on the light side. We saw only one other boat trolling this past couple days.

Trolling Lake Cove south to Canyon Dam is on of my favorite lanes and its has been good. Trolling a injured minnow rig, in a smelt pattern by Basstrix, with a wiggle fin action disk in front, and injected with Pro-Cure Trophy Trout scent helped me get nine  hookups over the morning. Best fish a  3.12-pound rainbow. This rig is excellent during this time of year when the main food for sport fish is smelt.

The browns are still in the spawn cycle, hens need to be released, try not to net them if you get hooked up.

Water levels are still very good, but are coming down. Watch for hazards.

It’s a good time to fish Almanor, and it could be the last real good weekend before old man winter comes a calling. Check weather report, smaller boats not advised if wind is forecasted. Dress for cold conditions. Doug Neal (530) 258-6732 http://www.almanorfishingadventures.com